Site Preparation
Site Preparation Guide 29
Airborne dust
Agilent Technologies recommends a maximum airborne particle density of
55 μg/m3. If you suspect your site exceeds this limit, contact your local Agilent
Technologies Customer Service Organization. Customer Engineers with
special training and equipment can t est for airborne particle density. They c an
offer suggestions for reducing airborne dust.
Exhaust venting
There are two sources of exhaust on the GC/MSD system: the foreline pump
and the GC split vent. The foreline pump outputs gas removed from the
vacuum manifold by the high vacuum pumps. The foreline pump exhaust will
also contain traces of solvent and sample.
The foreline pump exhaust cannot be vented into the laboratory if any
hazardous materials will be introduced into the GC/MS system, including
samples, solvents, carrier gases, and reagen t gases. It must be vented external
to the building or vacuum exhausted to a fume hood.
If a negative pressure vent is not available, the length of tubing from the
foreline pump to an ambient pressure vent should not exceed 460 cm (15 ft).
The exhaust can not be connected to a positive pressure vent.
Exhaust gas venting must comply with all local environmental and safety
codes.
WARNING User safety requires that the exhaust gases from the MSD be vented externally to
the building and not recirculated by the environmental control system. Health
hazards include chemical toxicity of solvents, samples, derivitizing agents, pump
fluid vapor, and aerosolized biological samples.
WARNING The pump exhaust contains carrier gas and traces of solvents, analytes, and foreline
pump oil. The supplied oil trap stops only pump oil. It does not trap or filter out toxic
chemicals. If you are using toxic solvents or toxic or flammable carrier gas, or
analyzing toxic chemicals, do not install the oil trap. Install a hose to take the pump
exhaust to a fume hood. Do not use the oil trap on any CI MSD.
5975 Series Site Prep.book Page 29 Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:47 AM